Drill-coupling.



Y'Ptelted Dec. 16,190.2..

W c m" No. 7l5,861.

L. c. PRESTON.

DRILL CUPLIYNG. (Applikation med sape. 21. 1961.5

(No 'M odBL) Wl T/vEssEs UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEWISC. PRESTON, OF WESTON, OREGON.

DRILL-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 715,861, dated December 16, 1902.

K Application filed September 21,1901. Serial No. 76,130l (No model.)

To all whom/Vit may concern.:

Be it known that'l, LEWIS C. PRESTON, a citizenvof the United States, residing at Weston, in the county of Umatilla and State of Oregon, have invented a new and useful Drill- Coupling, of which the following is a specification. Y Y

This invention relates to couplings, and particularly to means for removably connecting the box or stem of a drill with the bit thereof; and some of the objects of the invention are l to so. connect such parts that they will not gagement.

become accidentally disengaged during the operation thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide such means which will be simple and cheap in construction and at the same time will be positive and effective in operation.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists, essentially, in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, substantially as more fully described in the following specification, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming part of this application, in Which- Fignre 1 is an elevational view of a portion of a bit and box or stem, the latter being broken away to illustrate the 'position of the parts therein. Fig. 2 is an elevational View showing the locking mechanism out of en- Fig. 3 is a detail view of the pinion and shaft. Fig. 4 is a fragmental view of the box or stem, illustrating the keyway in the shaft of the pinion. Fig. 5 is a detail of the movable portion of the locking mechanism, showing the pinion in position for operating the same; and Fig. 6 is a detail of the locking portion illustrated in Fig. 5 looking in a direction at right angles to said gure.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a portion of a box or stem (designated by the reference characterl and hereinafter referred to also as the drivingelement or member) Which is preferably provided with a squared or angular portion 2 for the reception of a wrench or other device to be used in turning the stem when it is desired to connect the same with the bit 3, also preferably provided with a similar squared or angular portion 4 for the same purpose.

vThe bit 3 is preferably provided with a frusto-conical externally-screw-threaded portion 5, constructed to entera similarly-formed .internally-screw-threaded portion or extremity 6 in the end of the stem 1, substantially as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. However, other constructions may be employed to removably connect the stem and bit, as will be readily understood.

The screw-threaded portion 5 of the bit 3 is preferably provided with a rounded extension 7, in the end whereof are desirably formed notches or teeth 8, substantially as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, and the box or stem 1 is preferably cut away to form a circular chamber or recess 9, into which opens an angular recess 10 to receive the angular portion 11 of the movable portion 12 of the lookin g mechanism, preferably provided with teeth or notches 13, constructed to engage with the teeth or notches 8 upon the extension 7 of the bit 3, substantially as shown. By means of this construction after the screwthreaded portion 5 of the bit has been screwed into the end of the stem 1 and the movable portion 12 is forced into engagement with the teeth 8 of the circular extension 7 of the bit the unscrewing or disconnection of the stem or box and bit will be prevented, as will be readily understood, for the angular portion l1 cannot turn or rotate in the stem or box and only moves longitudinally therein.

To move or actuate the movable locking portion longitudinally within the stem, there is preferably employed a rack-bar 14, formed on or connected with the angular extension 11 and desirably terminating in a reduced cylindrical extension 15 to receive and guide one end of a coiled spring or other device 16, located in the upper portion of a longitudinal recess 17, formed in the stem or box 1 above the recess 10 therein, substantially as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

Mounted in the transverse bore in the stem is a shaft 18, which may be provided with annular recessesor grooves, but preferably is constructed to receive a sleeve or packing 19, of rubber or other material, to seal the opening or bore in the stem or box 1 and se- TOO curely prevent the entrance of Water or foreign material, and said shaft is preferably provided with a pinion 2O and a trunnion 21, constructed to enter a recess or bearing in the stem or box to support the inner end of said shaft, and the outer end of said shaft is preferably provided with an annular' rim or fiange 22, constructed with an annular groove to receive a packing-ring 23, said flange being secured in a recessed or cutaway portion 24 in the wall of the stem.

To prevent the accidental displacement or removal of the stem, the fiange 23 thereof may be constructed with a recessed edge to receive an expansible split ring 25, constructed to expand into an annular cavity or groove in the walls of the stem around the recess portion 24 to retain the shaft in position within the stem While permitting the rotation thereof, it being understood that the pinion 2O meshes with the rack-bar 14 to force the movable toothed or locking portion 12 into and out of engagement with the toothed extension 7 of the bit.

In order to operate or rotate the shaft 18, the latter is preferably provided With a slotted end 26 for the reception of a key or other device 27, Which may be provided with a hinged end 28, adapted to enter a slot or Way 29 in the stem to lock the shaft 18 in a predetermined position, or any other suitable means may be supplied to rotate the shaft 18 and to lock or hold the same in the desired position. I

The operation of the invention will be readily understood from the foregoing description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the following explanation thereof. l/Vhen it is desired to connect or couple the bit 3 with the stem or box l, it is only necessary to insert the screwthreaded portion 5 of the bit into the end of the stem and rotate the same until said parts have been screwed home, which will preferably be indicated by notches or other marks upon the cylindrical surface of the stem and bit, whereupon the key will be released from the slot 29 and the spring 1G will force the rack-bar toward the bit, thereby causing the toothed portion l2 to engage the toothed extension 7 of the bit and locking the latter against reverse movement or preventing the accidental unscrewing of the bit, it being understood that the movable portion or plunger l2 Was retracted or drawn into the position shown in Fig. 2 before the coupling operation was begun.

Itis not desired to confine this invention to the specific construction, combination, and arrangement of parts herein shown and described, and the right is reserved to make all such changes in and modification of the same as come within the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claiml. A coupling provided with a driving element having an interiorly-threaded extremity and a circular and angular chamber or recess, a driven element having a threaded projection to engage the extremity of the driving element and provided with an extension to enter said circular chamber and means mounted in said circular chamber constructed to engage said extension and having a portion in said angular chamber to prevent the rotation of said means.

2. A coupling provided with a driving element having an interiorly-th readed extremity and a circular and angular chamber or recess, a driven element having a threaded projection to engage the extremity of the driving element and provided with an extension to enter said circular chamber and a plunger mounted in both of said recesses constructed to engage said extension to prevent the accidental disengagement of said elements.

3. A coupling provided with a driving element having an interiorly-threaded extremity and a circular and angular chamber or recess, a driven element having a threaded projection to engage the extremity of the driving element and provided with an extension to enter said circular chamber and a spring-actuated plunger mounted in both of said chambers constructed to engage said extension to prevent the accidental disengagement of said elements.

4. A coupling provided with a driving element having an interiorly-threaded extremity and a circular and angular chamber or recess, a driven element having a threaded projection to engage the extremity of the driving element and provided with a cylindrical extension to enter said circular chamber, a plunger within said chambers and means for forcing said plunger into engagement With said extension to prevent the accidental disengagement of said elements.

5. A coupling provided with a driving element having an interiorly-threaded extremity and a chamber or recess, a driven element having a threaded projection to engage the extremity of the driving element and provided with an extension, a device within said recess, a rack-bar connected with the device and a shaft carrying a pinion meshing with said rack-bar constructed to force said device into and out of engagement with said extension to secure or release the driven element.

6. A coupling provided with a driving element having an interiorly-threaded extremity and a chamber or recess, a driven element having a threaded projection to engage the extremity of the driving element and provided with an extension, a device Within said recess, a rack-bar connected with the device, a shaft carrying a pinion meshing With said rack-bar and having a slotted end and a key to rotate said shaft and lock the same, whereby said device is forced into engagement With said extension to prevent the accidental disengagement of said elements.

7. A coupling provided with a driving ele- IOO IIO

ment having an interiorly-threaded ext-remity and a chamber or recess, a driven` element having a threaded projection constructed to be removably connected with the driving element and provided With an eX- tension having teeth and notches, adevice Within said recess having teeth or notchesconstructed to engage or register with the teeth on said eztension and means for preventing the rotation of said device.

8. A coupling provided with a drivingelement having an interiorly-threaded extremity and a chamber or recess, a driven element having a threaded projection constructed to removably engage the driving element and provided With a toothed or notched extension and a device having an angula'r portion constructed to engage Walls of said recess and provided With notches or teeth constructed to engage the first-mentioned notches to prevent the disengagement of said elements.

9. A coupling provided with a driving element having a screw-threaded extremity and a chamber or recess, a driven element having a screw-threaded projection and a toothed or notched extension, a looking portion having teeth or notches to engage the first-mentioned teeth and provided with an angular portion held against rotation in said recess, said portion having a rack-bar carrying a spring, a pinion-carrying shaft having a slotted end and a grooved iange, a packingsleeve on said shaft, a packing-ring in said flange, an expansion-ring in said flange to engage the wall of the driving element and a key to engage said slot and enter a recess in said element to prevent -the descent of the rack-bar.

In testimony whereof I have signed my 4o name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' LEWIS C. PRESTON. Witnesses:

J. W. KEMP, L. B. ALDERETE. 

